Mark Beaumont, who completed the journey in 195 days in 2008, held the earlier Guinness World Record. ox is a cycling proficiency instructor from Cornwall.

He started his cycle trip from Greenwich on 7 February 2010, took 12 plane and boat transfers, crossed six continents and cycled through more than 20 countries.

He took up the challenge to raise money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation that works with the blood cancer charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research to get advanced new treatments to patients more quickly.

"I am delighted to have finished and to have set a new record. I planned a pretty adventurous route and it has meant that I've had an incredibly broad experience of different cultures and climates - all the things that make cycling both difficult and exciting. I've met some amazing local people and other adventurers along the way," the Telegraph quoted Cox as saying.

"The ride has kept on throwing up adversity for me to overcome - a severe bout of dysentery which meant I couldn't ride for two days, endless headwinds in Australia and a pass closed due to snow in California. That's all on top of the conditions you naturally plan for such as the heat in Death Valley, Nevada and Arizona," he added.

Cox on his journey crossed France, Northern Africa, Asia, then Australia, Northern America and then up through Spain and France and a final leg from Plymouth to Greenwich. (ANI)